What is oxidation
Oxidation isn’t random. It’s chemistry plus exposure. Gelcoat is porous, like skin or like a sponge under a microscope. Over time, UV rays from the sun break down the gelcoat's chemical composition. Water and oxygen react with the broken-down resins in your gelcoat. The top surface then dries out and turns chalky and that chalk is essentially "dead" gelcoat.
Most popular kits:
Creating a Blank Canvas
Surface Prep
Old waxes, oils, and residues can sit inside the pores of gelcoat. If you compound over them, you’re working through contamination. This step ensures maximum performance.
Wash thoroughly
Use Dish Soap (or any soap with degreasers) to remove waxes, oils and contaminants from the pores of your gelcoat, leaving it ready for compounding.
You may use:
- Bucket & brush method
- Foam cannon & pressure washer
⚠ Non-pH neutral soaps should never be used for routine cleaning as they strip protective layers, leaving your boat vulnerable to the return of oxidation.
Rinse completely
Make sure the boat is free from any residual soap, dirt and contaminants to avoid micro-scratching.
Dry fully
Make sure to completely dry the surface before compounding, as proper friction plays a role in the oxidation removal process.
Pro Tip (Optional)
After drying, spray a 50/50 mix of Isopropyl (Rubbing) Alcohol + Water. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. This ensures, absolutely no leftover oils, surfactants or residues and allows for pure surface contact for compounding.
Compounding & Polishing
Correction
Now that your boat is clean and dry, you're ready to compound. Our one step diminishing abrasive system is designed to cut down on time and complexity, allowing you to remove oxidation and polish your boat to a high shine in a single step, all without "masking" the problem with the short-lived shine other compounds are notorious for.
Prepare your pad
• Attach pad via hook & loop backing plate.
• Lightly massage compound into the pad to prime it.
• Add 3–5 dots evenly spaced.
Apply the product
With the polisher still in the off position, dab the pad with product on it around a 2' x 2' working section.
Set your polisher to a setting of 4/6. With your pad almost flat against surface, using light to minimal pressure (no harsh angling needed) press the trigger and work in a side to side, then top to bottom in a crosshatch fashion, covering the entire 2'x2' working area, with slow, controlled passes. As you work, the compound will begin white and then start to diminish. Gloss will increase and chalk will disappear.
Wipe residual compound
Stop machine. Use high-absorbency microfiber towel to remove remaining compound and to view your results.
What you're seeing: The formula started out cutting away the surface layer oxidation, broke down into a fine polishing solution through the heat and friction of your clean pad and refined the surface as it finished. You’ve mechanically removed oxidation versus masking it. No fillers. No fake shine. No temporary gloss. True correction.
NOTE: Compounding and polishing are two necessary steps of the gelcoat correction process. Where and how they fit in to that process depend on the existing condition of your gelcoat. In the vast majority of cases, oxidized gelcoat can be corrected with compound and polish alone, without sanding. It is always best to perform a small test with compound before heading straight to sanding. In the rare event of severely oxidized gelcoat that does not react to compound alone, wet sanding may be required to fully remove the oxidation and restore the finish completely (before) applying the compound and polish required to remove sanding swirls and bring the boat back to a high shine. While rare, the possibility remains, as does the need for compounding –– and our one step diminishing abrasive technology allows you to perform that compound and polish in a single final step before applying protection.
Locking In Your Results
Protection
Compounding removes oxidation but does not protect your boat. Once oxidation is removed, fresh gelcoat is exposed and must be shielded from UV and the elements—otherwise degradation begins immediately, like bare wood left in the rain. Traditional waxes typically last only 4–6 weeks and require frequent reapplication, which many owners overlook. Our Ceramic Top Coat Sealant provides a longer-lasting, user-friendly solution with up to 12X the protection of wax.
Spray the surface
In moderation, spray the surface of the boat, once again working in 2x2' sections for the best visibility and control.
Spread evenly
Spread evenly across your working area with a low-absorbency microfiber, covering every inch.
Buff completely
Continue buffing with the microfiber towel completely into the gelcoat until fully dry. Allow a minimum of 24 hours cure time before water exposure. During cure, the solution forms a covalent (chemical) bond with your gelcoat, the protection layer stabilizes and hydrophobic properties develop.
Required:
Maintenance
This is where most boat owners unintentionally undo their work. After protection cures, use only pH Neutral cleaners and confirm on label (not marketing terms)
Words like "Biodegradable", "Eco-friendly" "Gentle" or "Safe" do NOT indicate pH neutrality. For ongoing routine maintenance, avoid dish soap, bleach, Simple Green, household cleaners, acid-based products, and degreasers. These can strip protection instantly. When protection is removed, UV quickly damages raw gelcoat and oxidation returns rapidly.
Required:
UV Exposure
Reapplication Schedule
Sunlight intensity varies dramatically by geography. It's important to follow the schedule below in order to maintain your boat's protection from UV exposure.
🔴 High UV Regions
Reapply Every 3-4 Months
Average UVI: 7–9+
- Florida
- Southern Texas
- Arizona
- Southern California
- Gulf Coast
- Southern Nevada
- Hawaii
🟠 Moderate-High UV
Every 4–6 Months
UVI: 5–6
- Mid-Atlantic (VA, NC)
- Inland California
- Southern Midwest
- Parts of the Carolinas
- Lower Southwest
🟡 Moderate UV
Every 6–9 Months
UVI: 4–5
- Northeast
- Great Lakes
- Upper Midwest
- Northern Plains
- Inland Pacific Northwest
🟢 Low UV
Every 9–12 Months
UVI ≤3
- Coastal Pacific Northwest
- Northern New England
- Alaska
